CON: Sustained Profit Margin Gains Will Drive Measured Momentum Amid Mixed Outlook

Key Takeaways

• Expansion in advanced automotive technologies and digital mobility solutions is strengthening Continental's order pipeline and driving higher-margin, recurring revenue opportunities.
  
• Strategic cost optimization and effective market positioning are boosting profitability and setting the stage for sustainable long-term growth.
  
• Persistent FX and tariff pressures, weak core business volumes, high restructuring costs, and legal challenges threaten profitability, free cash flow, and stable long-term growth.

Catalysts

A technology company, provides solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transportation worldwide.

• Accelerating demand for e-mobility, smart systems, and connected vehicle technologies is resulting in a robust pipeline of new orders-particularly in areas like autonomous driving, integrated brake systems, and telematic control units-supporting expectations of long-term revenue expansion as OEMs increasingly adopt advanced components.
  
• The increasing regulatory focus on safety and emissions is catalyzing customer wins for premium, technology-rich automotive products (e.g., satellite cameras, long-range radars, advanced safety systems). This is expected to improve Continental's product mix and drive sustainable margin expansion over time.
  
• Ongoing digitalization in the automotive sector is fueling expansion of Continental's software, over-the-air update, and integrated mobility platform offerings, unlocking higher-margin and recurring revenue streams that should steadily lift both topline growth and earnings stability.
  
• Strategic cost optimization initiatives-including €200–400 million in SG&A reductions, substantial headcount reduction, R&D rationalization, and targeted spin-offs/divestments-are already materially reducing the company's breakeven point and are set to further improve net margins and free cash flow over the next several years.
  
• Successful mitigation of recent headwinds (FX, tariffs, muted volumes) alongside strong operational execution-evidenced by resilience in premium tire segments and superior order intake in Asia/China-suggests Continental is well-positioned to leverage long-term industry tailwinds, enhance regional market share, and capitalize on above-market growth opportunities, translating into higher future revenues and improved profitability.

Continental Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

• Analysts are assuming Continental's revenue will grow by 1.5% annually over the next 3 years.
• Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from 2.8% today to 5.0% in 3 years time.
• Analysts expect earnings to reach €2.1 billion (and earnings per share of €10.34) by about September 2028, up from €1.1 billion today. However, there is some disagreement amongst the analysts with the more bullish ones expecting earnings as high as €2.3 billion.
• In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 9.8x on those 2028 earnings, down from 13.3x today. This future PE is lower than the current PE for the GB Auto Components industry at 13.3x.
• Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to remain consistent over the next 3 years.
• To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 6.75%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Continental Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

• Continued and significant negative impact from foreign exchange (FX) headwinds and tariffs, particularly in segments like Tires, resulted in low-to-mid three-digit million euro hits to profitability, and management expects similar FX rates and exposure in the second half-posing ongoing risks to group revenues and net margins.
  
• Flat to declining sales volumes in core businesses (Automotive, Tires, ContiTech) amid muted or weak macroeconomic environments in Europe and industry sectors, with only slight signs of improvement and uncertainty in volume recovery; this threatens long-term revenue growth prospects.
  
• Large one-off and recurring restructuring, separation, and spin-off costs (e.g., the Automotive spin-off, asset divestitures) are weighing heavily on free cash flow and may continue throughout 2025, limiting available cash for reinvestment and potentially compressing net margins and earnings.
  
• Difficulty maintaining or expanding margin guidance in the Automotive segment due to lingering market instability, tough comps vs. prior years, ongoing commercial and operational restructuring, and risk that cost reductions may not keep pace with market pressure on pricing, thereby impacting profitability and earnings stability in future years.
  
• Legal disputes and warranty cases, such as the emerging lawsuit with BMW related to key product lines (e.g., MK C2 brake systems), introduce contingent liabilities, unpredictable legal expenses, and reputational risks that could negatively affect future net income or revenue sustainability.

Valuation

• The analysts have a consensus price target of €82.837 for Continental based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of €100.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just €66.0.
• In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be €41.4 billion, earnings will come to €2.1 billion, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 9.8x, assuming you use a discount rate of 6.8%.
• Given the current share price of €73.2, the analyst price target of €82.84 is 11.6% higher.
• We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.